Swept Away? Virtual Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(virtual)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This Virtual Cache is very close to Bull Creek. It is very easy to find once at the coordinates - it is a large object - about 10 ft long and 6 ft wide. You have 2 choices to get to the coordinates - staying dry is very difficult, while wading in the river is easier, but very slippery, and you need to get out of the river which is not easy.
We discovered this item on Christmas day 2001 - before we started Geocaching. At the end of a beautiful hike up and down Bull Creek, we followed a path which "stopped" - but we tried to continue! The slope got steeper and steeper - and in the end we slipped down towards the river - and stumbled across this "treasure". To hike out, we then had little choice but to get wet! These are the choices to find the cache - dry and steep or wet! Either way you are likely to spot some cool wildlife if you keep your eyes open - which is advisable as there might be snakes in the water - but remember they'll be more scared of you!
There are several numbers that might be associated with an item like this. 2 of those numbers are still visible. One has 3 digits (the rest of that number is barely visible but someone got it!) - another has 8 digits. Sending us just one of those numbers will confirm that you found this cache! There might be other numbers that we were unable to find - but would be happy to hear about them. One such number has 5 digits. (Could be cool to use as parts of a coordinate in a multi-cache!)
The real question that intrigues us is how this got there! We believe that some years ago, the layout of this area might have been quite different. On the way in, you might spot a large red object in the middle of the stream which is a bit of a clue. However, we do not know and are interested in any facts anyone might have about the history of this area. The name of the cache is our simplest theory! But from where? Also, any additional information about the virtual cache object would be welcome. We are not experts about these sorts of things.
The water depth will depend upon how much rain has fallen recently! It will generally be easier to wade down the river - but shoes are probably less slippery than barefoot.
*** Warning ***
This area is liable to flash flooding - which is why we chose not to make this a physical cache. If tropical storms are in the area - it would be advisable to try this one another day (as we know tropical storms don't hold back those Texan Geocachers!).
Also - watch out in the river because it is slippery - and we don't want you to ruin your GPS! You need to climb out of the river to locate the numbers - and this is pretty tricky too. This is really why we've put the difficulty so high.
*** Book Inspiration! ***
Note that this cache is the inspiration for "Swept Downstream" in the Geocaching novel "First to Find" by Mark Gessner (aka lowracer).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur ahzoref ner gur bqbzrgre naq ratvar oybpx ahzore.